SPAIN:Malaga beat Villarreal 2-0

Santa Cruz, Amrabat give Malaga win

22 Apr 2014 05:49:36

Malaga beat Villarreal 2-0 at

home on Monday to take a

big step toward assuring its

place in Spain's topflight

next season.

Malaga's stout defense limited Villarreal to

just one shot on goal, even after the hosts

went down to 10 men for the final 15 minutes

when Nordin Amrabat was shown a direct

red for vehemently protesting to the referee.

Roque Santa Cruz chipped the ball over

goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo from a tight angle

to open the scoring in the sixth after the

striker was played through by Samuel

Sanchez.

Amrabat used his pace to race down the left

side and waited for Sergi Darder to arrive

unmarked in a second wave before he

crossed for the midfielder to fire in the hosts'

second goal in the 53rd.

Malaga climbed to the middle of the

standings.